Tire scuffing is a usual occurrence in new asphalt driveways and seal-coated asphalt. You need not call on your contractor just yet. We advise you to read on so you may better understand and set your expectations on your asphalt.
Why Tire Scuffing and Indentations Appears on a New Asphalt Driveway
Nothing can be better than the sight of newly paved asphalt driveway. There is beauty and appeal with a new asphalt driveway. It all seems beautiful at first. But lo-and-behold, there are tire marks. What was so lovely is now with tire scuffing. What a mess!
Newly constructed asphalt parking lots or driveways may occasionally exhibit surficial tire scuff marks and indentations, particularly when opened to initial or early traffic. The occurrence of these marks is often exacerbated during periods of hot weather.
Tire scuffing is a usual occurrence in new asphalt driveways and seal-coated asphalt. You need not call on your contractor just yet. We advise you to read on so you may better understand and set your expectations on your asphalt.
Owners of parking lots or driveways will often consider the appearance of scuffing and tire marking as a sign of poor quality resulting in a hot mix asphalt (HMA) that will not last as long as intended.
This is not the case! The scuffing and tire marks are typically a minor aesthetic problem that will not affect the long-term performance of the asphalt pavement.
Having tire scuffing on your asphalt does not mean inferior or improper asphalt installation. It doesn’t mean that installers used the wrong and low-quality materials. You may seem bothered by their appearance but worry not. The tire scuffing will fade over time, and once the asphalt driveway has been open to traffic.
Many factors contribute to the cause of scuffing and tire marking. To ease the worries, here are some reasons tire scuffing appears on your asphalt driveway:
The Age of the Driveway
When asphalt is still new (within the first two years), it is soft and more flexible. It is not as durable as it should be when it hasn’t completely cured and hardened. If you have a new asphalt driveway or a new layer of seal coat, expect your asphalt to be more prone to tire scuffs. Because of its age, it still cannot resist scuffing. When it becomes harder over time, it will become more durable, and the scuffing that you see will be lessened and will start to disappear.
Temperature
After you lay the new asphalt, it is essential to consider the temperature. Outside temperatures affect how long it will take for the laid asphalt to harden. With hot temperatures, you can expect tire scuffs to occur quickly. It also slows down the process of curing, so it makes the driveway more flexible and softer than usual. Installing asphalt in fall and winter makes the asphalt driveway less prone to tire scuffs.
Skip seal coating during springtime to present tire scuffs. You will notice the driveway will get hotter as the summer months come along. Opt for the cooler temperatures of fall and winter to allow the asphalt driveway to cure more quickly. Once paved, it may still take two years to cure completely. Summer sun on newly paved surfaces (very black) can cause elevated temperatures at the surface of the asphalt.
Vehicle Weight
The weight of the vehicle, traffic, and the large tires all contribute to the scuffing of an asphalt driveway. When a vehicle makes a stationary 180-degree turn, go for a sudden brake, and when you use a truck with power steering capability, these are the common reasons tire marks appear.
The Type of Tire Used
Scuff marks in new asphalt driveways are produced depending on the type and size of the tire that is passing through the driveway. The standard bias-ply tires cause tire scuffing, more so for off-highway vehicles like trucks and SUVs. Tread patterns and steel-belted radial tires will be a cause for tire marks. Front-wheel drive vehicles tend to have higher loading on the front wheels, which can cause higher contact pressures. Lower profile tires frequently have higher tire pressures resulting in increased stress. Lastly, Tires fresh from periods of summertime highway driving are hot and can mark an already hot pavement.
The Type of Asphalt
The type of asphalt you use is influential in causing scuff marks in your new asphalt driveway. In general, use of coarse asphalt makes scuff marks less likely to occur. On the other end, use of a thin seal coat makes scuff marks more likely.. More robust mixes designed with aggregates that are 100% crushed and with greater amounts of coarse aggregate may have a coarser, less aesthetically pleasing finish but will be more resistant to scuffing and indentation.
The structural design of the pavement must be tailored to the types of traffic and expected loading on the pavement. Installation may involve increased pavement thicknesses and the use of mixes with coarser aggregates and stiffer binders. Aesthetic appearance and structural strength must be balanced.
Other Factors
Craft quality must also be considered but with today’s advances in equipment, technology, and Quality Control programs used in the industry, this issue is not usually the primary factor causing the scuffing. However, some problems related to construction could be influencing the problem, such as:
- Construction equipment allowed on a newly constructed asphalt pavement will leave indentations and scuff marks, and (Lewis Builders prohibits construction equipment on a freshly paved driveway).
- Low compaction in the hot mix asphalt - a result of light compaction equipment used on the thin pavement (Lewis Builders ensures that our paving sub-contractors always use the proper size roller for the pavement applied).
Lastly, note that guests and visitors, such as package delivery services, may also cause scuffing on newly paved driveways and are generally less aware of the issues. Owners of driveways and parking lots should make guests aware of these potential issues to avoid them.
Opening the Asphalt Driveway
Allowing no-access to a new asphalt driveway can save it from tire scuffing. When the area is closed, it has more time to dry and set so that it may harden appropriately. But if the asphalt driveway is open, it is more susceptible to wear and tear, allowing tire scuffs to appear.
Tire scuffing on new asphalt driveway is normal. Understanding how and why tire scuffing appears will help ease your mind. There is no need to worry or panic. Over time, they will fade, and all you’ll have of them are just memories.
The Fix
There is no quick fix for scuffing or indentations without possibly causing more damage to the asphalt surface. Most markings will disappear in time under normal traffic conditions. Indentations greater than 5 mm in depth may be a tripping hazard or may hold water in the winter resulting in ice patches. These minor defects may have to be leveled by a mild reheating of the pavement and re-compaction. In many cases, the fix may result in localized imperfections that may be more detrimental to the long-term appearance and performance of the pavement than the scuff marks that are being removed. Repair methods used should be evaluated to determine the long-term effect of the procedure.
The Long Term Effects
Asphalt scuffing or marking is not a sign of reduced pavement life. An asphalt pavement going through hot weather and marking will have the same life span as an asphalt pavement placed in cooler weather with no marking. If the problem is a weak subgrade, the result will usually be ‘alligator skin’ cracking of the asphalt pavement reducing its service life.
The Conclusion
A well-constructed parking lot or driveway showing signs of tire scuffing and marking will still meet the specified, designed life expectancy. Tire scuffing is not a sign of poor craft or improper materials.
We hope this article settles all the questions you have in mind. If you are still in question and you need to know more about tire scuffing in detail, you can always contact our warranty department.
-The Lewis Builders Team
Source: http://www.asphaltinstitute.org/